For two symmetric quantum states one may be interested in maximizing the overlap under local operations applied to one of them. The question arises whether the maximal overlap can be obtained by applying ... [more ▼]

For two symmetric quantum states one may be interested in maximizing the overlap under local operations applied to one of them. The question arises whether the maximal overlap can be obtained by applying the same local operation to each party. We show that for two symmetric multiqubit states and local unitary transformations this is the case; the maximal overlap can be reached by applying the same unitary matrix everywhere. For local invertible operations (stochastic local operations assisted by classical communication equivalence), however, we present counterexamples, demonstrating that considering the same operation everywhere is not enough. [less ▲]

Laser cooling and trapping techniques enjoy a solid reputation as powerful and elegant providers of well-localized, backing-free sources. Not only does this hold true within the atomic physics and quantum ... [more ▼]

Laser cooling and trapping techniques enjoy a solid reputation as powerful and elegant providers of well-localized, backing-free sources. Not only does this hold true within the atomic physics and quantum optics communities, but also beyond. Most notably, these techniques have recently joined the toolbox of low-energy, high-precision tests of the Standard Model. Our work with argon falls within the subset of nuclear beta decay studies, which have historically played a key role in establishing and testing our understanding of weak-interaction physics. In this framework, precision measurements of the beta asymmetry correlation parameter in the beta decay of Ar-35 have been identified as one promising probe for physics beyond the Standard Model. Our current work focuses on the development of a test magneto-optical trap (MOT) setup for Ar-40 as a preliminary step towards cooling and trapping Ar-35 atoms. In particular, much effort is being put into optimizing the efficiency of our source apparatus, which is crucial to achieving high enough statistics in the final trap. We present the current status of the experimental realization of our setup. Measuring the beta asymmetry correlation parameter requires highly spin-polarized samples. Therefore, in parallel to our experimental work, we are numerically investigating methods for generating, controlling and precisely measuring the degree of spin polarization of a sample of Ar-35 atoms. We also aim at being able to quickly switch between a polarized and a non-polarized sample so as to better understand systematic effects. We report on the progress of our theoretical modeling. [less ▲]

We present the recent progress in the development of a hydrogen maser in the unusual TE111 mode. In contrast to standard hydrogen maser that exploits the TE011 mode, the TE111 mode allows one to design ... [more ▼]

We present the recent progress in the development of a hydrogen maser in the unusual TE111 mode. In contrast to standard hydrogen maser that exploits the TE011 mode, the TE111 mode allows one to design hydrogen masers with significant reduced dimensions which represents a huge benefit for space applications and in particular for the global positioning system. We present in details the different parts of our model : cavity with a thin Teflon sheet, magnetic shielding, temperature control of the maser... [less ▲]

We aim to describe a droplet bouncing on a vibrating bath. Due to Faraday instability a surface wave is created at each bounce and serves as a pilot wave of the droplet. This leads to so called walking ... [more ▼]

We aim to describe a droplet bouncing on a vibrating bath. Due to Faraday instability a surface wave is created at each bounce and serves as a pilot wave of the droplet. This leads to so called walking droplets or walkers. Since the seminal experiment by {\it Couder et al} [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 97}, 154101 (2006)] there have been many attempts to accurately reproduce the experimental results. Here we present a simple and highly versatile model inspired from quantum mechanics. We propose to describe the trajectories of a walker using a Green function approach. The Green function is related to Helmholtz equation with Neumann boundary conditions on the obstacle(s) and outgoing conditions at infinity. For a single slit geometry our model is exactly solvable and reproduces some general features observed experimentally. It stands for a promising candidate to account for the presence of any boundaries in the walkers'dynamics. [less ▲]

We present the recent progress in the development of a hydrogen maser in the unusual TE111 mode. In contrast to standard hydrogen maser that exploits the TE011 mode, the TE111 mode allows one to design ... [more ▼]

We present the recent progress in the development of a hydrogen maser in the unusual TE111 mode. In contrast to standard hydrogen maser that exploits the TE011 mode, the TE111 mode allows one to design hydrogen masers with significant reduced dimensions which represents a huge benefit for space applications and in particular for the global positioning system. We present in details the different parts of our model : cavity with a thin Teflon sheet, magnetic shielding, temperature control of the maser... [less ▲]

We investigate multiqubit permutation-symmetric states with maxi- mally mixed reduced density matrices in the symmetric subspace [1]. Such states can be viewed as particular spin states, namely anticoher ... [more ▼]

We investigate multiqubit permutation-symmetric states with maxi- mally mixed reduced density matrices in the symmetric subspace [1]. Such states can be viewed as particular spin states, namely anticoher- ent spin states [2]. Using the Majorana representation of spin states in terms of points on the unit sphere [3], we analyze the consequences of degeneracies of the Majorana points and of a point-group symmetry in their arrangement on the existence of anticoherent spin states. We provide different characterizations of anticoherence and establish a link between point symmetries, anticoherence, and SLOCC classes [4]. We consider in detail the case of small numbers of qubits and solve the 4-qubit case completely by identifying and characterizing all 4-qubit anticoherent states. [1] D. Baguette, T. Bastin, and J. Martin, Phys. Rev. A 90, 032314 (2014); O. Giraud et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 080401 (2015); D. Baguette et al., Phys. Rev. A 92, 052333 (2015). [2] J. Zimba, Electron. J. Theor. Phys. 3, 143 (2006). [3] E. Majorana, Nuovo Cimento 9, 43 (1932). [4] SLOCC classes : Classes of states equivalent through stochastic local operations with classical communication. [less ▲]

We present the results of our research concerning a conjecture about the maximal fidelity between a symmetric (permutation invariant) multiqubit state and the states belonging to a given entanglement ... [more ▼]

We present the results of our research concerning a conjecture about the maximal fidelity between a symmetric (permutation invariant) multiqubit state and the states belonging to a given entanglement class. [less ▲]

Laser-cooled and trapped radioactive isotopes are now being used to probe the properties of the weak interaction in nuclear beta decay. In this context, it is essential that one be able to control the ... [more ▼]

Laser-cooled and trapped radioactive isotopes are now being used to probe the properties of the weak interaction in nuclear beta decay. In this context, it is essential that one be able to control the nuclear polarization of the atomic samples. We present two polarization/depolarization schemes for argon-35, whose mirror transition to chlorine-35 is a particularly sensitive candidate for precision measurements in nuclear beta decay. [less ▲]

Results of our preliminary investigation on a hydrogen maser cavity in the unusual TE111 mode are presented. Hydrogen masers use the transition at 1420.405MHz between the two hyperfine levels F = 0 and F ... [more ▼]

Results of our preliminary investigation on a hydrogen maser cavity in the unusual TE111 mode are presented. Hydrogen masers use the transition at 1420.405MHz between the two hyperfine levels F = 0 and F = 1 of the 1s1/2 ground state of the hydrogen atom. In contrast to standard hydrogen maser that exploits the TE011 mode, the TE111 mode allows one to design hydrogen masers with significant reduced dimensions, which represents a huge benefit for space applications and in particular for the global positioning system. In view of a future development of a hydrogen maser in the TE111 mode we performed a thorough analysis of the maser physics for this mode. Different simulations carried out are compared with first measurement results obtained for such a cavity. [less ▲]

An analysis of a hydrogen maser working with an unusual TE111 mode is presented. Different simulations have been carried out and are compared with preliminary results obtained for such a maser. In ... [more ▼]

An analysis of a hydrogen maser working with an unusual TE111 mode is presented. Different simulations have been carried out and are compared with preliminary results obtained for such a maser. In contrast to standard hydrogen maser that exploits the TE011 mode, the TE111 mode allows one to design hydrogen masers with significant reduced dimensions which represents a huge benefit for space applications and in particular for the global positioning system. [less ▲]

We propose a generalization of the Bloch sphere representation for arbitrary spin states. It provides a compact and elegant representation of spin density matrices in terms of tensors that share the most ... [more ▼]

We propose a generalization of the Bloch sphere representation for arbitrary spin states. It provides a compact and elegant representation of spin density matrices in terms of tensors that share the most important properties of Bloch vectors. Our representation, based on covariant matrices introduced by Weinberg in the context of quantum field theory, allows for a simple parametrization of coherent spin states, and a straightforward transformation of density matrices under local unitary and partial tracing operations. It enables us to provide a criterion for anticoherence, relevant in a broader context such as quantum polarization of light. [less ▲]

We present a comprehensive study on the remarquable properties shared by maximally entangled symmetric states of arbitrary numbers of qubits in the sense of the maximal mixedness of the one-qubit reduced ... [more ▼]

We present a comprehensive study on the remarquable properties shared by maximally entangled symmetric states of arbitrary numbers of qubits in the sense of the maximal mixedness of the one-qubit reduced density operator. Such states are of great interest in quantum information as they maximize several measures of entanglement, such as Meyer-Wallach entropy [1] and any entanglement monotone based on linear homogenous positive functions of pure state within their SLOCC classes of states [2, 3]. When they exist, they are unique up to local unitaries within their SLOCC classes [3, 4]. They play a specific role in the determination of the local unitary equivalence of multiqubit states [5]. Moreover, they are maximally fragile (in the sense that they are the states which are the most sensitive to noise) and have therefore been proposed as ideal candidates for ultrasensitive sensors [6]. They appear in the litterature under various names : maximally entangled states [6], 1-uniform states [7], normal forms [3, 4] and nongeneric states [5]. We present a general criterion to easily identify whether given symmetric states are maximally entangled or not [9]. We show that these maximally entangled symmetric (MES) states are the only symmetric states for which the expectation value of the associated collective spin S of the system vanishes, which coincides with the definition of anticoherence to order one of spin states. This definition also coincides with the cancellation of the dipole moment of the Husimi function of the state. We then generalize these properties and show that a state is anticoherent to order t, <(S.n)^k> is independent of n for k = 1, . . . , t, where n is a unit vector, iff it has maximally mixed t-qubit reductions or iff all moments up to order 2t of its Husimi function vanish. We also establish the equivalence between anticoherent states to order t and unpolarized light states to order t [8], thereby encompassing various state characterizations under the same banner [9, 10]. We provide a nonexistence criterion allowing us to know immediately whether SLOCC classes of symmetric states can contain MES states or not. We show in particular that the symmetric Dicke state SLOCC classes never contain such MES states, with the only exception of the balanced Dicke state class for even numbers of qubits. We analyze the 4-qubit system exhaustively and identify and characterize all MES states of this system as well as the only 4-qubit state anticoherent to order 2. Finally, we analyze the entanglement content of MES states with respect to the geometric [11] and barycentric [12] measures of entanglement. [1] D. A. Meyer and N. R. Wallach, J. Math. Phys. 43, 4273 (2002). [2] Classes of states equivalent through stochastic local operations with classical communication. [3] F. Verstraete, J. Dehaene, and B. De Moor, Phys. Rev. A 68, 012103 (2003). [4] G. Gour and N. Wallach, N. J. Phys. 13, 073013 (2011). [5] B. Kraus, Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 020504 (2010). [6] N. Gisin and H. Bechmann-Pasquinucci, Phys. Lett. A 246, 1 (1998). [7] A. J. Scott, Phys. Rev. A 69, 052330 (2004). [8] L. L. Sánchez-Soto, A. B. Klimov, P. de la Hoz, and G. Leuchs J. Phys. B : At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 46, 104011 (2013). [9] D. Baguette, T. Bastin, and J. Martin, Phys. Rev. A 90, 032314 (2014). [10] O. Giraud, D. Braun, D. Baguette, T. Bastin, and J. Martin, arXiv :1409.1106. [11] T.-C. Wei and P. M. Goldbart, Phys. Rev. A 68, 042307 (2003). [12] W. Ganczarek, M. Kus, and K. Zyczkowski, Phys. Rev. A 85, 032314 (2012). [less ▲]